Yanks activate reliever Bruney

NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees activated right-hander Brian Bruney from the 15-day disabled list before Tuesday night's game against Baltimore and optioned struggling reliever Edwar Ramirez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Bruney went on the DL on April 25 because of a strained flexor muscle in his right elbow. He is 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in nine games for the Yankees this season, serving as Mariano Rivera's primary setup man when healthy.

Bruney blamed an 8½-minute delay during an umpires' video review for causing his injury. He kept warming up in the bullpen while umpires verified Jorge Posada's drive was a home run April 19. He pitched once more before going on the DL.

Ramirez was 0-0 with a 5.19 ERA in 15 games. He walked 15 in 17 1/3 innings.

"Too many walks," the right-hander said. "I'm surprised, but I have to be better."

Ramirez has never been quite what the Yankees hoped for since his major league debut in 2007, when he struck out the side against Minnesota in his first inning. The Yankees liked him -- he was picked to wear the Wicked Witch of the West costume when the team dressed up the rookies for the final road trip that year -- and he started the 2008 season with 13 straight scoreless appearances.

Chien-Ming Wang, on the DL since April 24 with soreness in his hips, threw in the bullpen before the game against the Orioles. He is 0-3 with a 34.50 ERA in three starts for the Yankees.

Wang has made two rehab starts in Triple-A, and said he wasn't sure whether he would make another before returning to the majors. Either way, he was eager to rejoin the Yankees.